NBA Midweek Report: Week 3

It's that time of year where you can start to chill on those Fantasy Basketball adds.

No more frustration at your league's fascist 4 moves/week policy.

You can delete your petition on Change.org

Rotations are becoming clearer, breakouts have already started breaking out.

While opportunity is harder to spot, it's still there.

You just have to look a little closer, and you have many more competitors for those precious few, high upside resources.

It's time to start letting go.

Now firmly in our third NBA week, it's time to stop dreaming. And it's time to learn the vital difference between a Bojan and a Bogdan. (More on that later.)

But let's start with a hero.

HEROES:

Derrick Rose, CHI, PG

I'll forgive any Derrick Rose owner for being a total buzzkill. While we're all drinking Tequila and doing the Macarena, these are the guys muttering incoherently to themselves. Something about: "49 games played in the last 3 seasons combined". Something like that. Not sure really. I was doing body shots off a cheerleader.

But D-Rose came back after his latest nagging injury, beasting for 24 points, 2 3PM, 7 assists, 2 rebounds and a steal. While Derrick Rose and Brook Lopez are 2 of the most reviled names in Fantasy Basketball circles, there's no denying their talents. High risk, high reward. Remember when everyone stayed away from Steph Curry a couple years ago? I could have had him in a dynasty league dirt cheap. Those wobbly ankles scared me off. Now he's a top 3 Fantasy Basketball player.

You're scared. I get it. But just give it some thought. D-Rose can still play.

And that's why he's a hero.

ADDS:

Bojan Bogdanovic, BKN, SG (7% owned in Yahoo leagues)

You'll be forgiven if you didn't know the difference between Bojan Bogdanovic (Nets) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (Suns). Everybody confuses these guys. Hell, even one of the most respected basketball statistics sites in the world had them listed incorrectly as brothers. They were corrected by yours truly. Here's PROOF.

The guy you want is Bojan. He's playing heavy minutes on the Nets, shooting mostly open 3s. He's a highly touted, 25-year old rookie from Croatia who was selected as the first pick in the 2nd round in the 2011 NBA draft.

He's got pedigree, experience and opportunity. And he's firmly in the running for ROY.

Make the add.

Anthony Morrow, OKC, SG/SF (21% owned in Yahoo leagues)

The revolving door of swings keeps swinging in OKC.

I went ahead and picked up Jeremy Lamb (more on him later) in the Yahoo Friends and Family league. Then Anthony Morrow came back from injury and went off for 28 points last night.

Morrow is one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA. On a team decimated by injuries (but slowly getting players back), Morrow is one of the ONLY legitimate offensive options on the OKC Thunder. He's a career 43% shooter from 3, and will be given the green light to shoot as often as he likes. On Wednesday night against the Celtics, Anthony shot 11/16 from the field, with 28 points, 4 3PM and 5 rebounds.

That was not a fluke night.

The kid can shoot, and he's gonna get lots of shots until OKC's 2 beasts come back. I went and grabbed him in 4 leagues last night. He's a short term add, but a very good one. Don't hesitate to add him to your squad.

Jeremy Lamb, OKC, SG/SF (26% owned in Yahoo leagues)

I definitely got a little burned playing Lamb in Yahoo's F & F league this week. After his 17-point outbursts last week against the Grizzlies and Kings, I figured a 4-game week from Jeremy would reap Fantasy rewards.

Well, that didn't happen.

The last 2 games combined, Lamb has shot 4/23, averaging 5 points, 4.5 boards, 2 assists and a steal.

If you've got him on your squad already, I say hold him. If you're in a deep league - and a frustrated owner just dropped Lamb - consider the add.

There's obviously risk here, but he's still playing heavy minutes. I wouldn't go out of my way to grab Lamb, but if he falls onto your lap, there is upside here... Even with Reggie Jackson and Morrow beasting, there are very few scoring options on OKC... He's worth a roster spot as the worst, short term player on your team.

DROPS:

Shane Larkin, NY, PG

Jose Calderon's injury put Larkin into the rotation, and he's been playing heavy minutes. He's at 25 minutes/game for the season.

He's just not putting up any numbers.

Maybe he plays good team D. Or maybe he sets really good picks.

But I don't care - and neither should you.

He's pretty consistently getting his 6 PPG, on 40% shooting with 2.1 boards, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals. Even in deep leagues, you can do better than this...

Nik Stauskas, SAC, SG

One of my least favourite parts of being a Fantasy Basketball owner is dropping guys I loved in college.

Adam Morrison, Jimmer Fredette, JJ Redick.

All 3 were scoring studs in college, and all 3 disappointed in their rookie seasons.

Morrison basically never made an NBA impact (and is now retired), Fredette is barely hanging on to being an NBA rotation player and JJ Redick surprised many by finally breaking out in his FOURTH season in the NBA.

College pedigree does not equal NBA success.

I'm hoping that Stauskas goes the JJ route, but he's looking closer to Jimmer right now. It's still early, but this is simply not an ownable player for any sort of 1 year league. Even in the 1 dynasty league I owned Stauskas in, I dropped him for Bojan Bogdanovic. I'm really hoping I include Nik in one of my ADD sections at some point this year, but he's looking completely overmatched in every aspect of the NBA game.

Good luck, Nik Stauskas. But that sound you hear is the last remaining of your Fantasy Basketball owners dropping you...

Sebastian Telfair, OKC, PG

Last week I told you to add him, this week I tell you to drop him?

What gives, Bobman?

That's life in the NBA, friends.

Last Thursday, I included Telfair in my ADDS section in my Midweek Report. But then OKC got the aforementioned Jeremy Lamb and Anthony Morrow back.

Here are his numbers the last 2 games (combined): 24 minutes, 2/8 from the field, 6 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists. That's not even ONE good game.

The Sebastian Telfair party is over. Get the hell out of my house.

John Henson, MIL, PF/C

I didn't want to put Henson here, but I gotta keep it real.

He's one of the best young players in the NBA, but Jason Kidd obviously hates him.

Here are the numbers of minutes he's been given (in descending order) for the last five games: 5, 14, 6, 11, 9.

Statheads like me love that his block % of 8.8 puts him at #3 in the NBA, but when you play 6 minutes a game, you're not going to accomplish much...

If you're in a keeper/dynasty, hold. If you're in a 1-year league, cut. But keep him in your Watch List. He's a bad man, and if given the opportunity, he's a future Fantasy Beast...

So that's what I got, y'all.

Don't overreact, but don't miss the signs. No point holding on to dreams when you're slipping in the standings. If you've built up a good win cushion in your league, perhaps you can wait another week or 2 to see if your sweet NBA rookie is going to have his projected breakout season. More likely than not though, you're just in denial.

Kim Kardashian is married now.

Just get over it.

Bobman